Ugandan culture, heritage, and Uganda Waragi shone at the 2024 Washington DC Embassy Chef Challenge, a global culinary event held at Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue.
A total of 23 embassies, including Uganda, China, Malawi, and Morocco among others, gathered to compete for the People’s Choice Award and the Judges’ Choice Award, selected by a panel of culinary and cultural judges.
The event highlighted Chef Sentie Kironde, a renowned Boston-based Ugandan diaspora chef. Chef Kironde and his team set up the Ugandan stand at the event, serving some of Uganda’s signature cuisines, including steamed fresh matooke, katogo (roasted goat meat stew), steamed groundnut luwombo for vegans, garden vegetables, brewed Ugandan coffee, and an assortment of Uganda Waragi sundowner cocktails. The Ugandan stall attracted over 1,000 guests who sampled the menu.
The event was organized with the support of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), which coordinated producers of Ugandan products, including a Uganda Waragi collection from Uganda Breweries Limited, Ugandan coffee from ORONCAFE, and Tooke Flour from the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development.
“Uganda Waragi is the spirit of Uganda, and the ethos of the brand is rooted in celebrating our unique Ugandan culture and heritage. We are pleased to support this event, which provided an opportunity to showcase Uganda to the world, allowing guests to experience our food, culture, and Uganda Waragi—a high-quality, rich premium gin made in Uganda,” said Hillary Baguma, Brand Manager, Mainstream Spirits at Uganda Breweries.
The cultural exchange established embassy linkages with other diaspora communities in the United States of America through a showcase of Ugandan cultural, commercial, and culinary craftsmanship through food and drinks.
The Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge is an annual celebration of global food and drink organized with the support of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACIED) office.
